Intern applicants
October 12, 2009 in CICM shop talk, internships
Alright, as I promised, you the faithful readers of the ICM weblog get to have some input into the intern application process. Here is a list of the intern applicants with their application essays. You get a vote, but you don’t get to see the vote (because I’m trying to be cognizant of the applicants’ feelings) and the final decision still rests with the CICM leadership. Poll is at the bottom of this post. So here goes – in no particular order: #
Jenna Staul – Kent State University (Click the link to read her essay) #
Sarah Wyland, University of Tennessee – Knoxville #
Essay: #
As someone who is interested in online journalism, I believe I would have a lot to offer Center for Innovation in College Media. Some ideas I have for the CICM site include even more utilization social media such as Twitter and Facebook and including more photographic material by using sites such as Flickr, as well as blog posts on new ideas in media I gather from both my studies and my experiences. I am an avid user of Twitter and Facebook and also use Publish2 for my website, www.countrymusicnewstoday.com so I feel like I have a lot of knowledge on social media. #
The University of Tennessee offers me many opportunities to learn more about what is happening in the media industry, particularly the movement towards online content. I would like to blog about the information I learn not only from attending panel discussions offered by Tennessee’s journalism program but also about information from my classes. For example, I am currently enrolled in a class on online journalism and the information I am learning is brand new in the media world, something I feel would be beneficial to other college students entering the media field. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was a recent topic we discussed and that is not a topic that is widely taught to my knowledge – this class was the first I heard of it. #
Podcasting and audio slide shows are two particular areas I am interested in working with. Ideas I have for podcasts include, again, topics from classes and panels, but also information I find. I am often the first in my circle of friends to find and try new media and I have recently discovered some new sites I would love to share with others. #
I would really like the opportunity to work with CICM. I believe that I not only have a lot to offer but have a lot to learn. This would be an excellent opportunity for me to develop my skills as an online journalist and I appreciate the chance to apply for this internship. #
Lance Conzett, Belmont University #
Essay: #
The problem with many industry blogs is that they’re on the outside looking in. Because I’m currently the editor, and have previously been the online editor, of a student newspaper, I can discuss the issues affecting college media because I’m constantly having that conversation with faculty advisors, fellow journalists and practically anyone else who will listen. We’re dealing with how to manage an online product with a print product, how to engage an audience, how to promote multimedia use and creative storytelling without burning out writers, and countless other factors on a daily basis. Granted, the paper that we work on is small, but it doesn’t matter what size the media outlet is—we’re all having the same problems. I think that being able to bring those conversations to the blog would help ground discussions of innovation. #
In addition to accounts of what we’re doing as a student media group (successes and failures), I’d be happy to continue to share new media innovations and how they can be applied in a campus setting. For instance, I just ran across Vuvox today and am trying to figure out how it could perhaps be used for future stories. I have no problems with using the newspaper I edit as a Petri dish for cutting edge technologies; I would be doing it anyway except with the CICM internship, I’ll be able to share the results with the blog’s audience. #
Ryan Thomas, Bridgewater State College #
Essay: #
I can contribute my passion for the media-based arts to the website with my particular bent for being rather skeptical about what headlines the mainstream music industry. I support human-based music consisting of manually operated instruments (as well as the talent behind such) and strongly believe the industry, currently geared and advertized as being more visually appealing than sonically, is losing its authenticism by the wheel-barrow full(if it had any to begin with). But more so lately, good-sounding music seems to be pushed with forceful intent to the back burner (I defy Rolling Stone labeling Lil’ Wayne, in his shamefully unironic cover issue, as a musical genius, alongside every other hack dubbed as such by their excessively loose- lipped editorial staff). I would like to provide the dissenting voice of the lesser heard and underappreciated listener of rock that need not rely on heavy gimmickry and adherence to popular conformity. #
I am an active spectator when it comes to keeping up with entertainment news (especially in music); I like to know what I’m consuming should I decide to slug down everything the entertainment industry excretes at the same rate as my gluttonous college peers (I typically don’t have so competitive an appetite). As a guitarist and writer, I am prone to such an obsession. I seek quality in every detail. I, hence, am actively involved with media on a daily basis from a dichotomous perspective: as auteur and voyeur. #
I would like to be an intern for your website as it appeals to my interest in such matters and developments associated with media technology, and experience is in no short demand as I bait myself before an over-stuffed job market. I keep up with and am familiar with most contemporary platforms for online interaction (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Blogger, etc.) as a 21-year-old senior at Bridgewater State College and English Major; I realize my interest in journalism, especially in these modern times of economic depravity, requires me to be so tech-savvy for fear of the newspaper’s mortality. Thanks for the consideration. #
Vote Here: #
I have known Sarah for many years. She is a dedicated, hard working individual who held down a full time day job to finance her first two years of college attended at night. She is quite knowledgeable and passion about online journalism as witnessed by her websites, <a href="http://www.countrymusicnewstoday.com” target=”_blank”>www.countrymusicnewstoday.com and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/countrynewstoday” target=”_blank”>www.myspace.com/countrynewstoday. I enjoy learning about current and new artist from Sarah's perspective. Her passion has helped me learn to love country music as never before. Making the Dean's List verifies that she has excelled in her efforts at UT. I am the Voter Registrar for my county in Virginia. Sarah assisted me this past spring in developing a training presentation for our poll workers that was very well received. Anyone hiring Sarah would indeed be fortunate to get such a solid, dedicated and passionate individual with an excellent work ethic.
I voted for Sarah she is a very pleasant person to work with and dedicated.
Lance looks like an interesting would-be blogger to me: less hot air, to the point, and ready to actually try out new things and report on that – rather than passing on 'conversations'.
Sarah Wyland is the One
Sarah is a very pleasant young lady and she is most definitily a dedicated person in whatever she does. I am very proud of you Sarah.
I voted for Jenna. Look at her resume. She has the most experience. And her essay was the best, if you ask me.
Well he kind of spent a whole paragraph talking about passing on conversations.
Jenna Staul is hands down the best choice for this internship. She's well educated, smart, witty, and independent. Having known her and worked with her on various journalism projects, I find her approach refreshing. She grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and she isn't cutting hair or taking blood samples for a living, or staying at home while her husband works construction so she can be the head of the group of mothers that support the football team. She's broken out and has a global view and ambitious goals. Few people that come from the place that we live can say that. Vote for Jenna.
Do you have links to online presences for any of these applicants?
Hopefully it's cool with the CICM overlords if I respond to this. It'll make up for the length advantage the other applicants have on my essay, maybe. Y'all can delete my comment if it isn't, although I'm sure it'd be easy enough to find me via Google.http://lanceconzett.com (slightly outdated portfolio site that needs work)http://twitter.com/LanceCohttp://flickr.com/photos/indierocklanceI'm also on Facebook, but I'm pretty sure I've restricted it to only Nashville, TN and Belmont networks.
Adam, I only have what they gave me in the essay and their resumes. I keep the resumes to myself, but the essays are open to anyone. I'm also not averse to the lobbying efforts.
Thanks Elise! That was my intention, to get across that I'm more interested in trying new things than just reblogging concepts and news (although that is still important to a certain degree).
Hi! Here are mine: http://www.countrymusicnewstoday.com – there is a link to my most recent resume under the 'About Us' section. twitter.com/countrymusicnewtwitter.com/sarahwylandUT
Sarah has her hands in everything and everything in her hands. When she sleeps, I'll never know. She'll be famous one day, one way or another.
Seems like Lance was the only submission that met the 250 word requirement (one being short and the others waaay long), as well as the only applicant who is actively involved in a student publication. The others seem qualified, but more as outsiders looking in rather than hands-on and current. I can't help but to notice the other applicants identify themselves as a "spectator", "interested" and "taking a semester off". Two seem a bit under experienced, one commercial and one just right; the obvious choice in this field of candidates is Lance.
Lance is one of the most dedicated and versatile media students I have had the pleasure to get to know. He does amazing work as the editor of the Vision (Belmont's online and print paper). Lance is constantly coming up with new innovative ideas on how to write, market and improve the Belmont Vision. Lance has an eye for media and a talent that is far beyond his years. Lance has spent several years mastering his craft and he is hands-down a talented photographer and writer who doesn't fit in the cookie-cutter media pool. He is cutting edge and in the middle of what is happening NOW in Nashville and across the nation in music, politics and media. You can't go wrong choosing Lance. He eats, lives and breathes his work.
I agree. Lance is current and that means a lot when it comes to a blogging style that attracts and maintains readers.
Yeah, Lance is the one who should get this. Definitely.
You should look at the actual word count. Lance's meets the requirement and so does Jenna's.
Well taking a semester off to work at one of the nation's most read blogs, covering lobbying in Washington DC doesn't seem like such a bad option.
Hi. I'm going to vote for Jenna Staul. She has experience. The others it seems are really into music journalism. but jenna (if you google her) has real news reporting experience. she works for the huffington post and she's still a college student. she has been really active at the daily kent stater and their web site. plus she is an actual blogger at the huffington post. she works on their lobbyblog feature as they are trying to reformat it and build up its readership.
Hi. You can read LobbyBlog at huffingtonpost.com/news/lobbyblog. As the LobbyBlog intern I've helped re-vamp the blog's content as it tries to attract its own readership. You can also see more reporting and some multimedia work at the archives at KentNewsNet.com by searching my name. There are more links at the small blog I created to apply for the internship. To learn more about my work in journalism, you can go to my LinkedIn Profile at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jenna-staul/13/882/68….While I'm here in DC I'm immersed in the blogosphere on a full-time basis (and where better to learn about new media than the Huffington Post?) and while at school I basically live in my university's newsroom while working as an editor and reporter. I'd like to work for CollegeMedaInnovation.com because I think my background would allow me to merge those two worlds.
In fairness, I do a great deal of music journalism because that's what my audience is interested in (Belmont has a large, respected Music Business program so it draws a lot of people interested in music). Aside from music, my portfolio includes pieces covering last year's town hall presidential debate, First Amendment law and economic issues within the community.
I vote Sarah – She's the absolute best choice – most professional and informative of them all!!!!!
Voting for Jenna. You can't argue with experience.
My thing with her is that maybe she has too much experience. She might even be over qualified. The others seem like they might need to get some experience doing something like this. On her resume, this would be her fourth internship. Maybe we should give someone else a chance.
Well you shouldn't punish her for being an overachiever. She has the most experience, hands down, out of all the other applicants and that's why she got my vote.
I'm speaking in regards to Jenna.
Well you shouldn't punish her for being an overachiever. She has the most experience, hands down, out of all the other applicants and that's why she got my vote.
I'm speaking in regards to Jenna.
I'm speaking in regards to Jenna.
Well you shouldn't punish her for being an overachiever. She has the most experience, hands down, out of all the other applicants and that's why she got my vote.
I'm speaking in regards to Jenna.